The Toyes
| The Toyes | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Toys |
| Origin | Grants Pass, Josephine, Oregon, United States |
| Genres | Reggae |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels | Currently Unsigned |
| Associated acts | B Wishes, Sublime |
| Website | www.thetoyes.com |
| Members | Mawg (Lead Guitar & Lead Vocals), B-dub (Rhythm Guitar & Vocals), John Trujillo (Bass & Vocals), Brian Rogers (Drums & Percussion) |
| Past members | Santa Davis, Fully Fullwood, Jawge Hughes, Mike Dawson, Ricci Accardi, Barry Boudreau, Jimmy Paolantonio |
The Toyes are an American reggae band based in Grants Pass, Oregon. Their style has been described as a "cross between Bob Marley and Barenaked Ladies". They are perhaps most famous as the original songwriters and recorders of the song "Smoke Two Joints". It was originally recorded in 1983, and was re-released on their 1993 debut album The Toyes. It was featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 American comedy-thriller film Homegrown. An influential version was recorded by the band Sublime; the song has since been mistakenly attributed to them or to Bob Marley. The Toyes also wrote and performed a song called "Monster Hash", a parody of Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash".
The Toyes are composed of Mawg on Lead Vocals and Lead Guitar, B-dub on Vocals and Rhythm Guitar, John Trujillo on Vocals and Bass Guitar and Brian Rogers on Drums.
Mawg (Jean-Christophe Kay) and his brother Sky (Michael Kay) were living together in Waikiki. Sky was working as a Pedi cab driver and Mawg was guitarist and vocalist in the Honolulu-based cover band, The Lifters.
In fall of 1982, Mawg and Sky were entertaining friends who had arrived at the home to take in the finest local herb. While jamming a rootsy groove and improvising lyrics, the hook of "Smoke Two Joints" came tumbling out to the delight of the party guests.
Seeing the response, Mawg and Sky completed the lyrics the following day while sitting under a large banyan tree on Kuhio Beach. Weeks later, Mawg performed the completed "Smoke Two Joints" with The Lifters. According to Mawg, "The crowd went wild and sang along. We played it 5 times that night after the crowd stopped our other songs in mid-performance by chanting 'Smoke Two Joints'." The tune had become an instant sensation.
Financed by their mother Paulette Kay, a French woman living in France, the Kay brothers immediately recorded the song and produced 500 45 RPM Vinyl discs. Joining them in the studio and rounding out the trio was 17-year-old Ricci Accardi, a local drummer. Having quit The Lifters, Mawg, Sky and Ricci joined up with singer Mike Dawson to form Tightrope, which they later renamed The Toys.
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Wikipedia